Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-22

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. Others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. Discuss both these views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Some university students think that learning other subjects in addition to their main field is useful, while others believe that it is better to concentrate on their main subjects. Both views have their own advantages. In my opinion, students should mainly focus on their main subject, but studying some additional subjects can also be helpful.

To begin with, there is an array of reasons to believe that students should focus on their main subjects. The most important one to be considered is better concentration and higher grades. Students can focus fully on their qualification. University education is difficult and requires a lot of time. If students study too many different subjects, they do not have enough time to study their main subject. For instance, a medical student needs to spend a lot of time about human body and different diseases. If this student spends too much time on other subject, their main subject may suffer. As a result, more time for their main subjects can improve academic performance.

On the other hand, there are numerous other points which justify that students should learn other subjects. First of all, learning other subjects can give students more knowledge and skills. Students can develop knowledge in different areas. For example, a student who studies computer science can also learn business and communication. Since, many companies want workers who can do many tasks, these subjects may help them in their future jobs. In addition, learning different subjects helps them understand the world better.

In conclusion, there are benefits for both views. Learning other subjects gives students more knowledge and skills, while focus on their main subject can give better concentration and higher grades. In my perspective, students should mainly focusing on their major, but studying a few additional subjects can be beneficial.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on whether university students should study other subjects or focus solely on their main qualification, and clearly presents a personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are relevant, such as discussing concentration and grades for the first view, and future employability for the second view. However, some arguments remain somewhat under-developed and tend to over-generalise. For instance, the example of a medical student needing to spend time on the human body is valid, but the support lacks depth and could be extended further. Nevertheless, the position is clear throughout and meets the requirements of Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement with an introduction, two body paragraphs discussing opposing views, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal progression, such as 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and cohesion are occasionally mechanical or repetitive, and paragraphing could be improved by ensuring every supporting point is fully integrated. Paragraph transitions are somewhat formulaic, placing the text firmly within the Band 6 descriptors for logical organization and paragraphing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms such as 'qualification', 'academic performance', 'computer science', and 'employability' (implied through context). There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, but also noticeable word-choice and collocation errors, such as 'spend a lot of time about human body', 'other subject' (singular instead of plural), and 'focus on their major' versus 'mainly focusing on their major'. Despite these minor inaccuracies, communication is never impeded, making this a solid Band 6 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing conditional structures and relative clauses (e.g., 'If students study too many different subjects, they do not have enough time...'). However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, including article omissions ('spend a lot of time about human body') and verbal form inconsistencies ('students should mainly focusing on their major'). These errors persist but they rarely impede communication, allowing the response to comfortably achieve a Band 6.0 for grammatical range and accuracy.

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